Toledo Walleye end 4-game skid, dump Nailers 5-3

WHEELING, W. Va. - The Walleye snapped a four-game losing streak and picked up two valuable points with a 5-3 win over Wheeling on Friday night.

Toledo (32-23-9) held one-goal leads in the first and second periods but the Nailers tied it both times.

Forward Trevor Parkes put Toledo up 3-2 with a power goal 4:46 into the third period. Defenseman Cody Lampl's goal five minutes later looked to have provided some insurance with 10:18 left. But Lampl's sixth of the season ended up being the game winner after Wheeling pulled back within one late in the contest.

The Walleye came into the game in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, six points ahead of Wheeling (27-25-11) for the final playoff spot. Toledo improved to 6-0-1 against the Nailers. The teams meet again Saturday and Sunday at the Huntington Center.

“We know this weekend is going to be a tough one and this game was just the start,” Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said. “This felt like a playoff game with both teams looking for points. They played very physical and we matched them throughout. It was a good finish to this game for us.”

Goalie Kent Simpson, who came up with two good stops after Wheeling pulled its goalie in the waning moments, finished with 35 saves.

Toledo's Aaron Bogosian added an empty netter with four seconds left.

Gleason Fournier gave Toledo an initial 1-0 lead on a one timer. Joey Martin then put the Walleye back up by one in the second period after Wheeling had tied it late in the first. But the Nailers tied it again to send the game knotted at 2 into the third period.

Parkes, who finished with a goal and an assist, tipped a shot from Nino Musitelli by Wheeling goalie Peter Demas (34 saves). Parkes now has 10 goals and 10 assists in 10 games for Toledo.

Simpson (15-12-5) had 13 saves in the third period.

FISH TALES: Toledo outshot the Nailers 39-38. … The Walleye have now outscored their opposition 85-62 in the third period. … Martin had a goal and an assist. Wes O'Neill and Kyle Rogers each had two assists for Toledo. … The organization is celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Saturday and Sunday with green ice, green beer and the band Extra Stout performing on Saturday.

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